Rail-brace.



T. e. STILES. v

RAIL BRACE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2I. 19w.

Patented June 19, 1917 3 SHEETSSHEET I.

Wineas;

T. G. STILES.

RAIL BBACE. I APPLICATION men APR. 21, 1915.

Patented June 19, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Wrzessti even 50.

fzrnomns enonen swims, or

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS- Gnome STIL s,a citizen of the United States,-and a resident of Arlin' on, in the county of Hudson and State of ew Jersey, have invented; certain new and useful Improvements .in Rail-Braces, of which the following is; a specification.

This in-Ivention' relates to, a rail-brace,and.

particularly to an adjustable, rail-brace 'for' 1 c'oactionawith arail-road rail; and the main object of the invention is toj'provide an improved rail-brace having means forfastening it securely, by suitable hlding devices',-' in any position which .-it may be set.,

. ent points or preferably run in two direc-' tions onesubstantially lengthwise of, and the other substantiallytransvers'e'to, the rail to which the brace is applied. One, of these holding devices is preferably a wedge locked in place in such. a manner that it practically forms part of the rail-brace.

passing. trains, was. adjustable.

Heretofore ithas been customary .to ,employ holding devices for the "rail -b raoe which would loosen up under the action of eipecially' if the rail-brace ere the main object is to prevent such loosening up of the parts by providing 'means -which will hold the railbrace positively 'under all conditions and preferably in two directions, that is, along two lines one of which istransverse to the :rated elements one pair running substanother and one of which will resist displace-. 85

ment in one direction and 'the other" of" which will resist displacement-in .a direc tion transverse to the first. 1 I The preferred means employed for holding the rail-brace proper -in the manner before described embodies two pairs of sertially lengthwise of the stock-rail and the other pair running substantially. crosswise of said-rail. Usually each pair of serrated holding elements is so combined with the other parts as to be capable of cooperating with a rail-brace adjustable to various positions. The construction ordinarily employed is one in which a comparatively long we go or key having serrations thereon coacts with, and serves to locate positively, a'

I rail-brace locatable in different positions crosswise of the stock-rail, according to the position of the wedge, and also mterlocks with one or more'parts for fastenin down the rail-brace in such a manner t at the 'ous specific purposes. 'uses of it are illustrated generally in Figs.

AGRLINGTON, New JERSEY.

p i a q 1 c ;r an Patented June/19,- 1917. 'aiaea filed April 21, 1915;; Serial No. 22,753;

wedge and these parts and the rail-brace'are v all locked together by engaging serrations some ofjwhich run lengthwise of the stock- 1 rail and others ofwhich run crosswise of it, all of these parts being so combined as tobe capable of being clamped down firmly Figure 1- is a plan of a portion of a rail-"f road trackshowing the application of my'in vention to the' stock-rails adjacent to the"; a points of a switch.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the rail- .brace and holding device applied'to a curve. Fig. 3 is a similar view, illustrating the application of the invention to guardrails. and stoclr-ralls at a point where guard-rails are applied, as for example at the inter- 1- section of .two tracks. 1

Figs; 4,5, and 6 are respective a'secso f."

tional elevation, a side elevation an ajp'lan, each on an enlarged scale, of oneof the rail-" braces shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 7 and 8 are'respectively a plan and a f 3 I scale, of the type of-rail-brace construction sectional end elevation, each on an enlarged shown in Fig. 3 as a plied to a stock-rail' l and an adjacent ,guar -rail.

'Fig..'9 is -.a plan of a pair of adjacent wedging'clampsshown in Figs. 7 and 8 for spacing the stock-rail and the guard-rail at 3 the proper distance apart.

Similar characters designate like all the figures of the drawings. 4

My improved rail-brace may be applied parts in to track-rails at various points and for vari- Some of the main 1' to 3 inclusive, it being there shown as applied to stock-rails at switches and as ap-- plied to rails on curves and as applied to both stock and guard-rails at double-track crossings. r

Referring first to Figs. 1, 4, 5, and 6, 2 designates the ordinary track-rail or'stockrail mounted on a suitable rail-support, in this case a tie-plate, 3, secured in the well known manner to a tie, 4. The stock-rail 2 is engaged substantially in the usual manner by a suitable. rail-brace, such as B, which is of suflicient width to engage a considerable portion of the under side of the head of the other points.

' cured to the tie-plate 3 and the tie 4 in any the rail-brace.

suitable manner, as for example by bolts, such as 5, two of which are shown as extending through the tie and tie-plate andthrough elongated openings, such as 66, in the extended fiat portion of the tail-piece of This extension is indicated at 7-7. The-upper surfaces of the parts 7 of the rail-brace are shown as serrated in a direction crosswise of the rail-brace, that is lengthwise of the stock-rail 2, for engagement'. with corresponding serrated or toothed washers, -such as 8--8, through which the bolts 5 pass and the upper ends of Which carry in this case tightening nuts, such as 9-9, with the usual small washers beneath them. The washers 8. are not round but are elongated, the long portions extending out-' wardly in a direction transverse to the stock rail and into position to coact with a suit-' able adjusting and holding device, prefer ably a wedge or key. The underside of each washer 8 is in this case serrated not only in a direction crosswise of the rail-brace and lengthwise of the stock-rail but also in a direction lengthwise of the rail-brace and crosswise of said stock-rail, This is for the purpose of cooperation with the wedge or key just referred to. r

A wedge or key suitable for adjusting the rail-brace to different positions crosswise of the stock-rail and holding it in any position to which .it may be set is indicated at W. One edge of it is preferably at a right angle to the rail-brace and the tie on which said rail-brace is supported, while the opposite edge is diagonalto such tie, the wedge nar-' rowing gradually from one end to the other and the wedge itself being longer than the rail-brace is wide in order to permit a considerable relative.adjustment'of the railbrace with respect to the stock-rail. This diagonal edge of the wedge is intended to abut against the extreme outer edge of the rail-brace proper and the opposite edge of the wedge is intended to engage a suitable fixed part," such as 10, along'which it may slide to shift .the rail-brace pro-per either toward or from the stock-rail as-the wedge is driven into the opening between the part 10 and the rail-brace proper or is drawn out of the same.

-. It will be noticed that the upper surface of the wedge W is serrated ortoothed crosswise, that is, in a directionprossw-ise of the stock-rail and lengthwise of the rail-brace,

'- these serrations, 11, being adapted toengage complementary serrations, such as 12, in the under sides'of the outer ends, of the extensions of the washers 8. In a similar manner the other serrations, 13, of the wash This rail-brace nlay be se-.-

"other end between which stop rail adjacent to it.

the rail-brace, so that the teeth 11 and 12 lock the wedge along one line against movement in a horizontal plane, While the teeth 13 and 14 lock said rail-brace along a line at right angles to the line of the first set of taking place before the two sets of teeth are brought together and, of course, before the nuts-9 are tightened. Fig. 6 shows clearly how the two sets of teeth of the wedge, the

.washers 8 and 'the'rail-brace proper are all interlocked after the parts have been properly adjusted and the nuts 9 screwed down In the constructionshown in Fig. 2, a curved rail, 2, is illustrated, which is braced at both sides, my improved rail-brace B ,beingshown as applied at one side of the rail and a fastening clip, b, at the other side of said rail, The construction and use of the rail-brace B shownin this view do not difi'er from the construction and use of the rail-brace previously described. The-parts B and I), however, are mounted on a support, such as the tie-plate 3, adapted to be fastened to the tie 4, this support having a stop at one end and the clip I) clamped to the the parts are wedged together,

In Figs. 3, 7, 8 and 9 I have illustrated the application of the invention to stock-rails having adjacent guard rails, as for example at the intersection of two tracks. In these views the usual track-rail or stock-rail is indicated at 2, while 9 designates the guard- In connection with these two rails I prefer to employ a pair of railbraces of the type previously described,,two

such rail-braces being shown at B. In this case, however, the two rail-braces are mounted on a tie-plate, 3", of suificient len h to receive both the rails and a pair 0 railbraces between two stops, 10, similar tothat shown at 10 in-Fig. 1. 'Thetwo' rail-braces and clip all illustrated in these views do not difler substantially from those previously described,

but they are fastened in place by short bolts, such as 5, which extend through the tieplate 3" and through the extended outer ends of. the rail-brace and also through the washers 8, these short bolts being secured in place tothe parts and tightened up by means and the other by 16. Part justed at the proper position. One of these sired position, with their teeth in port 3". When properly located at the'deengagement-with each other, the parts-ofthe clamp C, as will be obvious, space thestop-rail and the guard-rail positively 'at thedesired dis-' I positively engage these rails atthe outside the parts up tight .of-the rails and thus cooperate to hold the rails rigidly both at the inner and the'outer' edges thereof, it being understood that the wedges 'of the two rail-braces B are driven; home the necessar distance for lockingrall y, as will be'clear by referencetoFigsQ7and8.m" In all of the various uses ofmy improved rail-brace it is desirable to make provision for some playfcrosswise of the rail-brace at] the points where the bolts 5 or 5- pass through the parts. The elongated slots 6 previously referred to provide for not only play crosswise of the stock-rail but also, as before described, for a considerable range ofadjustment of the rail-brace in this direction.

- In addition, however, to this movement it is desirable, as just stated," to provide for move- 40 tion transverse to the rail-brace and length- .Wise of the stock-rail.

ment in the other direction, that is in a direc This isdone by providing slots, .6, transverse to the slots 6,-

- shift slightly which permit slight movement, say i 'to of an inch, crosswise-of the rail-braceffor the-purpose. of enabling the washers 8 to sidewise incase when the adustment is completeyand before the nuts '9 i a are tightened down, mplementary h-other.

the points or edges of This aslight adjustment takes -j;care of this condition by permitting suffi- -"cient'side'wise movement to enable the teeth of one part to slip down into the tooth-spaces of the complementary part, After this the parts may be tightened up. and locked tovgether, as before thenuts a 3 a a a a While" the construction 'showng' is that 1' which is preferred, it will, of course, be clear 5 f that I do not j confine myself to the use of' [holding-mea'ns'foi: locks'at two different? points or along lines transverse to each other, as, with adjustable rail-braces, I may use the wedge and any suitable holding means by length adjusted.

.ing' devices having twosets 7 versely rail. serrations are opposite disposed transversel lying lengthwise an crosswisefof the rail described, by tightening serrated surfaces carried by the rail-brace.

which the rail-brace ma What I claim is z i l. The combination with'a 'rail,a rai1-' support and a rail-brace extending tra ns-Q versely to said rail, of means-for fastening 1 said rail-brace, said means including holdof e g ng horizontally disposed holding running lengthwise and the other crosswise of said rail.- two 'wedging members -of the clamphC has a-depending element, '18, which is locatedin the corresponding opening, 19, in the sup- 2. The, combination with a an, a ansupport and an adjustable rail-brace extending transversely to said rail, of means for fastening said rail-brace, said means inengaging horizontally disposed holding faces, one set running lengthwise and the other crosswise of said rail. tance aparthThe two 'rail-braces-,B also .3

3. The combinationwith .a' fail, a railsupport and an adjustable rail-brace extendfac'es, one set be clamped and its a mg transversely to said rail, of means for adjusting and fastening .said rail-brace,

.said mean's'including a wedge disposed substantially' lengthwise of said-rail and holdv ing devices for'the rail-brace and the Wedge which holding devices have two sets of encrosswise of said rail. a

4. The COI'IlblIliLtlOIlWlth a rail, a rallgaging horizontally disposed holding faces, one set running lengthwise and the other support and a rail-brace'extending transto said rail, of means for fastening said rail-brace, said meansincluding two pairs of holding devices, each pair having two engaging serrated members the serraand those of the other pair crosswise of said .rail.

. 5. The combination with a rail, a rail- 't ons of one pair being disposed lengthwise pairsof holding devices lyingsubstantially in a commonplane, each pair having two engaging serrated members, the serrations of one pair being disposed lengthwiseand the other pair crosswise of said those of a 6." The combination with a rail, a railsupport and a rail-brace extending ,trans versely to said rail,-.of means for fastening i said rail-brace, said means including a clamping device having serrated surfaces said rail-brace, said means including a pair Liof clamping devices near opposite edges of the rail-brace each having serrated surfaces disposed transverselyto each other and co- .to each, .other and.

of means for fastening 80 v eluding holding devices having two sets of v I versel'y to each other and a pair of cooperative serrated horizontal surfaces one carried by the rail-brace proper and the other by said wedge.

9. The combination with a" rail, a railsupport and arail-brace embodying a wedge 21 for adjusting the length of said rail-brace of means for fastening said rail-brace, said means including a pair of clamping devices near opposite edges of. the rail-brace each having serrated surfaces disposed transversely to each other and cooperat ve serrated surfaces carried by the rail-brace proper and by said wedge.

10. The combination with a rail, a railsupport and a rail-brace embodying a wedge for adjusting the length of said rail-brace, the rail-brace proper being serrated horlzontally lengthwise and the wedge crosswise of the rail, of clamping means for the railbrace,said means embodying bolts and nuts for fastening the rail-brace to said rail-support and clamping washers under said nuts and serrated both lengthwise and crosswise of the rail to engage the serrations I of the rail-brace proper and the wedge. 11. The combination with arail, a rail-support and a rail-brace embodying a wedge disposed transversely thereto and of considerably greater length than the width of said rail-brace and operative for adjusting the 1 rail-brace transversely to the rail, of means for fastening said rail-brace, said means ineluding horizontally serrated holding de vices disposed lengthwise and crosswise of said rail. v J

12. The combination with a rail, a railsupport and a rail-brace extending transversely to'said rail, of means for fastening said rail-brace, said means including a clamping device having horizontal serrations running crosswise of the rail and cooperative serrations carried by said rail- 7 brace, said clamping device-and the railbrace being constructed to have relative movement crosswise of said serrations.

13. The combination with a rail, a rail support and a rail-brace extendingtra'nsversely to said rail, of means for fastening said rail-brace, said means including a clamping device having horizontal serrated acrosse surfaces disposed transversely to each other and a pair of cooperative serrated surfaces carried by the rail-brace, said clamping device and the rail-brace being constructed. to have relative movements crosswise of'said respective pairs of serrations.

14c. The combination with a rail, and with a rail-support adapted for attachment to a a a rail-support adapted for attachment to a tie and having fixed stops near its ends, of:

a pair of rail-braces the inner ends of which engage said ra l and the outer ends of which engage said stops, one of said rail-braces embodying an adjusting wedge and also embodying fastening means having two sets of engaging horizontal serrations one set disposed lengthwise and the other set crosswise of said rail. 16. The combination with ing fixed stops near its ends, means for spacmg and holding said trackrail and guarda pair of adjustable rail-braces the inner which engage said stops respectively, each of 'said rail-braces embodyingan adjusting wedge and also embodying fastening means having twosets ofengagingserrations one set disposed lengthwise and the other set dis osed crosswise of said rail.

justing and fastening said rail-brace, said means including a wedge disposed length-.

I a track-rail and with an ad acent guard rail, of a rail-sup port adapted for attachment to atie and havrail. at a predetermined distance apart, and r l ends of which engage the outer sides of said rails respectively and the outer ends of l .-The combination with arail, arail-supt port and an adjustable rail-brace extending a transversely to said rail, of means for adwise of said rail and adjustable by movement in the direction of its length and also including horizontal toothed holding devices carried respectively by the wedge and the rail-brace for clamping the wedge in any of its ad usted POSlillOIlS;

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 31st day of March, A. D. 1915.

. THOMAS GEORGE STlQ-LES.

Witness:

' C. S. CHAMPION. 

